Collapsible display framework for indoor or outdoor use

ABSTRACT

A collapsible support structure for a covering. The support structure includes, at least, three apex poles with first ends pivotally connected together, so that, in use, the poles are able to be moved between a raised configuration, in which second opposite ends extend outwardly in different directions to create a pyramid-shaped frame and a collapsed configuration. The support structure also includes pairs of perimeter poles, with each pair forming an inverted &#34;V&#34; between the opposite ends of adjacent apex poles, when in the raised configuration, and a bracket device including struts, which extend between, and are pivotally attached to, respective apex poles intermediate their ends, along with a central flange element, in which the first connected ends of the apex poles and the central flange element may be pushed toward each other to obtain the raised configuration or pushed apart to obtain the collapsed configuration. The apex poles and the perimeter poles are pivotally connected so as to fold together into close, substantially parallel, positions when in the collapsed configuration. The covering is, preferably, attached to the support structure by a hook-and-loop attachment and the connected perimeter and apex poles are secured in an open position by a releasably operated telescopic brace device pivotally connected therebetween.

This invention relates to temporary or collapsible structures which maybe used for example at indoor or outdoor sites or other places where anattractive short-term shelter is required.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

There are of course many types of tent-like structures used fortemporary shelter. These range from simple rectangular steel framesloosely hung with canvas to the more elaborate structures. Such knownapparatus however have the disadvantage of requiring a large number ofseparate parts which have to assembled on site. This of course is timeconsuming and requires the employment of expensive skilled labour. Myco-pending Australian Application No. 52329/93 discloses arrangementswhich enables relative ease of assembly.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate theaforementioned disadvantages and at the very least to provide analternative to known arrangements.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly a relocatable collapsible support structure for a covermeans is disclosed, said structure comprising at least three apex poleswith first ends thereof pivotally connected together so that in use saidapex poles are movable between a raised configuration in which thesecond opposite ends thereof extend outwardly in different directions tocreate a pyramid shaped frame and a collapsed configuration, and pairsof perimeter poles with each pair forming an inverted V between saidopposite ends of adjacent apex poles when in said raised configurationso as to form together with said apex poles the aforesaid pyramid shapedframe and the apex poles and perimeter poles being pivotally connectedso as to fold together into close substantially parallel positions whenin the collapsed configuration and bracket means linking said apex polesintermediate said first and second ends said bracket means comprisingbraces which extend between and are pivotally attached to each apex poleand a central connector whereby the central connector may be pushedtowards said first ends of said apex poles to obtain said raisedconfiguration or away from said first ends to obtain said collapsedconfiguration and the bracket means including locking means for limitingmovement of the central connector toward said first ends when in saidraised configuration, wherein the connected perimeter and apex poles aresecured in an open position by a releasably operated telescopic bracemeans pivotally connected therebetween.

According to another aspect there is disclosed a collapsible supportstructure for a cover means, said structure comprising at least threeapex poles with first ends pivotally connected together so that in usesaid poles are moveable between a raised configuration in which thesecond opposite ends extend outwardly in different directions to createa pyramid shaped frame and a collapsed configuration, and pairs ofperimeter poles with each pair forming an inverted V between saidopposite ends of adjacent apex poles when in said raised configurationand bracket means comprising struts which extend between and arepivotally attached to respective apex poles intermediate their ends anda central flange means whereby the first connected ends of said apexpoles and said central flange means may be pushed toward each other toobtain said raised configuration or pushed apart to obtain saidcollapsed configuration and said apex poles and perimeter poles beingpivotally connected so as to fold together into close substantiallyparallel positions when in said collapsed configuration, wherein saidcover means is attached to said support by hook and loop means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The currently preferred form of this invention will now be describedwith reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structure according to this concept inthe raised configuration,

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a connecting bracket forconnecting the ends of the apex poles together,

FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of a mechanism for extending the apexpoles out to their raised configuration using the connecting bracket ofFIG. 2, with the structure in the raised configuration,

FIG. 4 is a cutaway side view of the mechanism of FIG. 3, with thestructure in the collapsed configuration,

FIG. 5 is a detailed cutaway perspective view of the connection betweenthe pairs of perimeter poles,

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the lines VI--VI ofFIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the connection betweenthe outer ends of the apex poles and the perimeter poles showing themechanism for the connection,

FIG. 8 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the mechanismof FIG. 7 showing its operation,

FIG. 9 is a partial detailed perspective view of the connection betweenan apex pole, a sleeve member and a support leg showing its connectionoperation,

FIG. 10 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the connectionmechanism of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow 9 of FIG. 8,

FIG. 12 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the connection betweenthe outer ends of the apex poles and the perimeter poles showing theattachment means of the covering, and

FIG. 13 is a detailed cutaway perspective view of a pole showing theattachment means of FIG. 12.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIG. 1 the structure 10 may in its raisedconfiguration comprise four metal apex poles 11 which are joinedtogether at their uppermost ends by a connector piece 12. In this caseas shown with reference to FIGS. 2-4, the connector piece 12 for theuppermost ends of the apex poles 11 comprises a central square shapedslide member 13 having pairs of laterally extending wings 14 betweenwhich the ends of the apex poles 11 are hinged by transverse bolts 15.The ends of the apex poles 11 are preferably cut at an angle of 45° soas to engage the sides of the slide member 13 and limit the openingangle of the apex poles 11. Shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is a centre bracketassembly 16 wherein the slide member 13 encloses a centre pole 17 whichis slidable in the vertical direction as indicated by the arrows. Struts18 link fixed flanges 19 on the centre pole 17 to respective apex poles11 intermediate the ends thereof. The mechanism is therefore arrangedsuch that the centre pole 17 may be moved relative to the connectorpiece 12 between the lower position shown in FIG. 3 where the apex poles11 extend out and support a canopy 20 and the upper position shown inFIG. 4 where the apex poles 11 are folded inwardly toward the centrepole 17 and the canopy 20 is collapsed. A spigot 21 may be fitted to thetop of the centre pole to form a neat and taut centre point for theraised canopy 20. Preferably an eye bolt 22 is also fitted adjacent thelower end of the centre pole to facilitate its vertical displacementusing a hooked bar or the like.

Referring back to FIG. 1 it can be seen that pairs of perimeter poles 25also extend laterally from the centre of the structure 10 in an invertedV between the outer ends 26 of the apex poles 11. These perimeter poles25 together with the apex poles 11 thus define a central pyramid shapedframe with outwardly inclined wing sections on each side which may beused to support any suitable type of weatherproof covering or canopy 20.

A joint 27 between the ends of the perimeter poles 25 is shown in FIGS.5 and 6. An inner sleeve 28 is received inside the end of each of theperimeter poles 25, and is connected by a rivet 29 to an end tube 30which has substantially the same diameters as the perimeter poles 25.The inner sleeve 28 has a bolt 31 screwed into a hole 32 in its sidewith the bolt 31 passing through a transverse slot 33 in the perimeterpole 25. Thus the inner sleeve 28 and the fixedly connected end tube 30are able to rotate relatively with respect to the perimeter pole 25 withthe interaction between the bolt 31 and the slot 33 restricting theextent of the relative rotation. As the bolt 31 remains within the slot33 and the end tube 30 is fixedly connected to the inner sleeve 28 theend tube 30 remains at the end of the perimeter pole 25.

Each of the end tubes 30 have a lug 35 extending laterally from its sidetowards the adjacent end tube 30. The lugs 35 each have a hole 36through which an eye-bolt 37 passes thus pivotally connecting adjacentlugs 35 which in turn ensures that the perimeter poles 25 also pivot. Itis noted that the end tubes 30 have bevelled free ends 38 which providea tidy structure 10 when erected,

The joint 27 allows the adjoining perimeter poles 25 to both hinge inthe plane parallel to the poles and to partially rotate relative to eachother to facilitate the opening and closing of the structure asdescribed later.

A joint 40 between the perimeter poles 25 and the outer ends 26 of theapex poles 11 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Two perimeter poles 25 arepivotally connected to either side of the apex pole 11 by any suitablemeans of pivotal connection. It is preferable that the connection allowsrelative movement between the perimeter pole 25 and the apex pole 11similar to the movement as previously described with reference to joint27.

The joint 40 also includes a telescopic brace member 41 which ispivotally connected between the perimeter pole 25 and the apex pole 11.The brace member 41 includes a first tube 42 telescopically receivedwithin a second tube 43 with a push button release 44. The push buttonrelease 44 is spring operated by a butterfly spring 47 positioned withinthe tube 42, A push button 48 is urged into a pair of holes 49 in thetubes 42 and 43 when they are aligned at the erected configuration asillustrated in FIG. 8. As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the canopy 20 isadjacent the joint 40 when the structure 10 is in its erectedconfiguration and the push button release 44 is able to be operated bypushing the button 48 while the canopy 20 is located abutting the button48. Preferably, the location of the push button 48 is marked on thecanopy 20 so that it can be easily found when the structure 10 is to becollapsed.

The push button release 44 is located on the top side of the bracemember 41 so that it can be released easily by pushing the specificlocation of the canopy 20 without the need to remove or partially removethe canopy 20. When the push button release 44 is operated thetelescopic brace member 41 shortens and the perimeter poles 25 are ableto pivot relative to the apex pole 11 into a position substantiallyparallel thereto. Thus a strong and durable mechanism is provided toresiliently hold the perimeter poles 25 in their extended position aswell as allowing ease of release which enables the perimeter poles 25 tobe folded into a substantially parallel collapsed configuration.

A sleeve member 45 is fitted to each of the ends of the apex poles 11adjacent the joint 40 to receive support legs 46 as shown in FIG. 1. Anexpander device 50 as illustrated in FIGS. 9-11 is preferably used tosecurely fit the support legs 46 to the sleeve member 45. The expanderdevice 50 typically comprises a split tube 51 partially received withinthe top of the support leg 46 and partially receivable within the sleevemember 45. The split tube 51 has cross members 52 with threaded holes 53located therein in which a threaded bolt 54 is threadedly received in.The threaded bolt 54 extends outside the support leg 46 and has a head55 which can be manipulated to rotate the threaded bolt 54 and a nut 56positioned within the split tube 51. When the split tube 51 is partiallyreceived within the sleeve member 45 the head 55 is twisted thusexpanding the split tube 51 and securing the support leg 46 to thesleeve member 45.

The canopy 20 is preferably attached to the apex poles 11 and theperimeter poles 25 by hook and loop connectors 60 as illustrated inFIGS. 12 and 13. This preferred arrangement enables the canopy 20 to beeasily attached and detached without the need to disassemble thestructure 10 as required by existing structures. In the preferredarrangement the hook and loop connectors 60 are in strip form along thepoles 11,25, however it is possible that the hook and loop connectors 60can be used in a number of ways to secure the canopy.

By virtue of the novel hinged joints between the apex poles 11 and theperimeter poles 25 the structure 10 in use may be transported to thedesired location in the collapsed configuration, where the majorstructural components such as the apex poles 11 and the perimeter poles25, while remaining connected, are conveniently bundled together in acompact substantially parallel configuration with the attached canopy 20folded between them. On site the structure 10 is opened from thiscollapsed configuration by manipulating the centre bracket assembly 16During opening of the structure 10 the bracket assembly 16 is used tospread the respective apex poles 11 apart to take the form of thecentral pyramid structure 10 shown in FIG. 1. The perimeter poles 25 arealso simultaneously spread with the ends of the apex poles 11 to form aninverted V before being rotated outwardly (see FIG. 1 arrow B) andsecured in place using the joint arrangements of FIGS. 5 and 6. Thecanopy 20 which is attached to the apex poles 11 and the perimeter poles25, is thereby spread taut into a neat and attractive geometrical shape.The support legs 46 are then inserted into the sleeves 45 to elevate thestature 10.

After use the structure is easily collapsed again by pulling the bracketassembly 16 in the downward direction to unlock it, removing the supportlegs 46, folding the perimeter poles 25 inwardly towards the apex poles11 and then pushing any two apex poles 11 towards the centre of thestructure 10 whereupon all remaining apex and perimeter poles 11 and 25will be drawn inward to close to a substantially parallel position withthe canopy 20 folding between them.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form ofthe embodiment described provides a novel and useful improvement in thestructure of temporary shelters. Clearly however the example describedis only the currently preferred form of this invention and a widevariety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a personskilled in the art. For example the shape and configuration of theshelter when erected, the number of apex and perimeter poles used, thetype of and method of fixing the cover material to the frame, the typeof connectors for said poles and the method of connecting adjacent unitsmay all be varied according to design preference. Also while it ispreferred to use hollow aluminium poles the invention extends to anyother suitable material.

I claim:
 1. A collapsible support structure for a cover means, saidstructure comprising at least three apex poles with first ends pivotallyconnected together so that in use said poles are moveable between araised configuration in which second opposite ends extend outwardly indifferent directions to create a pyramid shaped frame and a collapsedconfiguration, and pairs of perimeter poles with each pair forming aninverted V between said opposite ends of adjacent apex poles when insaid raised configuration and bracket means comprising struts whichextend between and are pivotally attached to respective apex polesintermediate their ends and a central flange means whereby the firstconnected ends of said apex poles and said central flange means may bepushed toward each other to obtain said raised configuration or pushedapart to obtain said collapsed configuration and said apex poles andperimeter poles being pivotally connected so as to fold together intoclose substantially parallel positions when in said collapsedconfiguration, wherein the connected perimeter and apex poles aresecured in an open position by a relesably operated telescopic bracemeans pivotally connected therebetween.
 2. The support structure asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said releasably operated telescopic bracemeans is adapted to be operated from above the cover means when saidcover means is attached to said structure and said releasably operatedtelescopic brace means is positioned below said cover means when saidcover means is attached to said structure.
 3. The support structure asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said releasably operated telescopic bracemeans is operated by a push button release means adapted to bepositioned adjacent or abutting against said cover means.
 4. The supportstructure as claimed in any claim 1, wherein the connections between thepairs of perimeter poles comprise pairs of laterally extending lugswhich are fitted to the poles adjacent their ends, the outer ends of thelugs being pivotally connected by a bolt or pin, wherein each said endof said perimeter poles includes a sleeve rotatable within saidperimeter pole so that said adjoining pairs of perimeter poles canrotate relative to each other.
 5. The support structure as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the second opposite ends of the apex poles are adaptedto removably connect with support legs by angled sleeves.
 6. The supportstructure as claimed in claim 5, wherein an expander device is providedto securely connect said support legs to said angled sleeves.
 7. Thesupport structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover means isattached to said support structure by hook and loop means.
 8. Acollapsible support structure and cover means therefor: comprising covermeans and a support, said support structure having at least three apexpoles with first ends pivotally connected together so that, in use, saidapex poles are moveable between a raised configuration in which secondopposite ends extend outwardly in different directions to create apyramid shaped frame and a collapsed configuration, and pairs ofperimeter poles with each pair forming an inverted V between saidopposite ends of adjacent apex poles when in said raised configuration,and bracket means comprising struts extending between, and are pivotallyattached to, respective apex poles intermediate their ends and centralflange means whereby the first connected ends of said apex poles andsaid central flange means are capable of being pushed toward each otherfor obtaining said raised configuration or pushed apart for obtainingsaid collapsed configurations said apex poles and perimeter poles beingpivotally connected so as to fold together into close substantiallyparallel positions when in said collapsed configuration, wherein saidcover means is attached to said support structure by hook and loopmeans.